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Lesson 78 of 240

New here? This is lesson 78 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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This one or that one in English

Ana is at the Blue Plate after lunch. Dee holds two plates: apple pie and cherry pie.

Ana needs to pick one and say why. Murray sits at the counter and says both are fine.

By the end, you will choose between two things. You will say which one you want more, and why.

I'd rather have is the first line. It is the polite way to pick one thing over another.

By the end of this lesson

Choose between two things and say why.

  • I'd rather ___ than ___.I want the first choice more than the second.
  • How about ___ instead?Shall we take this other option?
  • Either is fine.I am okay with both choices.
  • Both are good.I like the first and the second.
  • This one is better for me.This choice works better in my situation.
  • I like this more than that.I prefer the first thing to the second.

Scene — two pies

Dee stands at the pie case with two plates. One is apple pie. One is cherry pie.

Ana sits at the counter. She looks at both plates and does not pick yet.

Murray is on two stools with his black coffee still full. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Dee presents apple and cherry pies while Ana considers both and Murray sits nearby with full coffee.

Learn — this one or that one

Six short lines help you pick one thing and say why.

You will hear I'd rather have first. Then you can offer another choice.

  1. Ana looks toward the apple pie with more interest than the cherry pie.

    I'd rather ___ than ___.

    I want the first choice more than the second.

    When to use it: Use this to pick the first thing over the second.

    I'd is I would, said as one piece.

    Say it: The stress is on rather.

  2. Dee slides the cherry pie forward as another option.

    How about ___ instead?

    Shall we take this other option?

    When to use it: Use this to offer a different choice.

    Instead points to the other option you name.

    Say it: The stress is on instead.

  3. Murray opens his hands toward both pies, comfortable with either choice.

    Either is fine.

    I am okay with both choices.

    When to use it: Say this when both choices work for you.

    Either here means one choice or the other.

    Say it: The stress is on the first word.

  4. Ana indicates that she likes both pies, then points out the apple pie.

    Both are good.

    I like the first and the second.

    When to use it: Say this when you like the two choices.

    Both means the first one and the second one.

  5. Murray takes the last apple slice while his coffee remains full.

    This one is better for me.

    This choice works better in my situation.

    When to use it: Say this when one choice fits you more.

    Better for me means it fits your needs.

  6. Dee sets the cherry pie in front of Ana after Ana chooses that item alone.

    I like this more than that.

    I prefer the first thing to the second.

    When to use it: Use this when you want the near thing, not the far one.

    This is the near one, and that is the far one.

    Say it: This and that start with a th sound.

Story — the last slice

Watch Ana pick a pie at the counter. Dee wants a reason, not a long speech.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Dee holds an apple pie and a cherry pie.
  2. DeeApple pie or cherry pie, hon?She asks Ana to pick a pie.
  3. AnaI'd rather have apple pie than cherry pie.She wants apple pie more than cherry pie.
  4. DeeWhy is that?Please explain the reason.
  5. AnaThis one is better for me. Apple is a fruit.She says apple pie fits her, because apple is a fruit.
  6. DeeIt's pie, hon. How about cherry instead?She says it is pie, then offers cherry pie.
  7. AnaI like this more than that.She prefers the first thing to the second.
  8. MurrayWhich one do you mean?Please say which person or thing.
  9. AnaBoth are good. The apple one.She likes both, then names the apple pie.
  10. MurrayWell, either is fine.He is okay with both choices.
  11. He takes the last apple slice.
  12. DeeCherry pie, hon? Anything else?She offers cherry pie and asks if Ana wants more.
  13. AnaJust this.only this item; nothing extra
  14. Dee sets the cherry pie in front of Ana.

Practice — pick and say why

A short set of exercises waits here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    I'd rather ___ than ___.Drop the Simple English here
    How about ___ instead?Drop the Simple English here
    Either is fine.Drop the Simple English here
    Both are good.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Dee holds apple pie and cherry pie. You want the apple pie more.

  4. What does it mean?

    I like this more than that.

  5. Fill the gap

    This choice works better in my situation.

    This one is ____ for me.

  6. Build the line

    I like the first and the second.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    I always pick this one.

    He says he picks this pie every time.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You want the pie near you, not the pie farther away.

    I like this ____ than that.

  9. What do you say?

    Dee offered apple pie. You want to offer cherry pie as the other choice.

  10. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    Do you want ice cream on it too?

    She asks if you also want ice cream.

    And you reply with:

  11. What do you say?

    Murray points at the pie case and says he likes this. You cannot see which pie.

Say it — say your pick

Now you're Ana at the pie case. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeApple pie or cherry pie, hon?She asks you to pick a pie.
  2. Ana (you)Pick apple pie over cherry pie.

    I'd rather ___ than ___.

    I want the first choice more than the second.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I'd rather ___ than ___.I want the first choice more than the second.
How about ___ instead?Shall we take this other option?
Either is fine.I am okay with both choices.
Both are good.I like the first and the second.
This one is better for me.This choice works better in my situation.
I like this more than that.I prefer the first thing to the second.
Next: lesson 79Foods I love

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